Celebrating Christmas and New Years Eve in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai might not be the first city that comes to mind when you think of Christmas - but celebrating the holidays in Chiang Mai is a great idea! Even though Thailand is predominantly a Buddhist country, the city still celebrates Christmas in its own way. This is partly due to the high number of Western tourists and expats in the city but also because Thai people never say no to a party!
It's a great place to spend the holidays - Christmas falls at the height of the high season, so there's a buzzing atmosphere in the city. In addition to this, the weather is pretty perfect at this time of year: sunny and pleasant but not too humid.
If you find yourself visiting Chiang Mai over the holiday season, you don't need to worry about missing the festive atmosphere back home too much. Whether you indulge in a traditional Christmas dinner at the Duke, go shopping for festive presents at Maya Mall, or track down Santa with the kids - there are plenty of ways to soak up the holiday cheer! Read on to find out our top recommendations.
Christmas in Chiang Mai: Shopping, decorations and holiday cheer.
The best way to get in the festive spirit in Chiang Mai is, without a doubt, by visiting one of the malls. Chiang Mai has several large malls, and during December, they go to town on seasonal lights and decorations. Chiang Mai's malls are some of the best shopping destinations in the country, containing a vast range of Western and local shops. For example, you can find almost all the same things at a Western mall, so they are an excellent destination for Christmas shopping. Here is a rundown of the Chiang Mai malls most worth visiting.
1. Maya Mall
Maya Mall is one of Chiang Mai's best destinations for shopping and dining, located on the intersection of Huay Kaew Road and Nimman. In terms of decorations, it probably takes the prize for the best in the city! The huge Christmas tree in front of the mall, as well as the lights and decorations, make for a great picture opportunity. Sometimes, they even have fake snow. As you enjoy a spot of shopping, you'll hear all the Christmas hits being played throughout the mall, but if you're lucky, your visit might coincide with a Christmas carol session performed by a local choir. Maya Lifestyle Shopping Center is open daily from 10 am-10 pm and can be reached easily on a bike or in a taxi.
2. Central Festival Mall
In the competition for the biggest Christmas tree in Chiang Mai, Central Festival Mall might just be the winner. Although a bit out of the center, this mall is still easy to reach - and very worth a visit! It's the biggest mall in the city, and is located about 15 minutes northeast of the old city. Like Maya Mall, it contains the big brand names, but you'll find even more of them here. In addition to this, its food court and supermarket at the basement level are much bigger than the dining area at Maya, with even more choice.
3. Central Airport Plaza Mall
Another mall worth mentioning is the Central Airport Plaza Mall, due to its truly unique atmosphere. It boasts a massive Christmas tree in the center of the mall, and has a great Christmas shopping atmosphere - you can even find Christmas elves here!
It is one of the older malls in Chiang Mai, and contains a mixture of some high end shops along with plenty of smaller and more thrifty stores. If a pair of jeans or a sweater for under ten bucks sounds good to you, this is the place to go.
Central Airport Plaza Mall definitely feels more authentic than some of the more modern malls and has a unique Thai touch, especially within the traditional food and craft market on the ground floor.
So where is Santa? Things to do with the kids.
If your family plans to be in Chiang Mai over Christmas, you'll be pleased to know that plenty of child-friendly activities and celebrations are taking place.
The big man in red makes a few appearances around the city throughout December. Check out the Equestrian Education Center’s annual 'Santa at the Bonfire' event, Wildside Chiang Mai's Christmas Market, Kinder Homes Christmas Party, and the Santa Meet and Greet at Nic's Restaurant and Playground.
Meeting Santa is just one of the many ways you can enjoy the holiday atmosphere with the kids - plenty of businesses hosting family-focused Christmas events. Bloom Space runs a fun Christmas crafting session to keep little hands busy, and Lanna International School runs regular caroling and Christmas music sessions throughout December.
Eating: The best holiday foods in Chiang Mai.
Everyone knows that Christmas is all about the food, and the holiday season is only complete with a proper Christmas dinner. You can find these at several restaurants around Chiang Mai. Here is a (small) selection of restaurants that offer a Western-style Christmas menu.
1. The Duke
Every year, the Duke's is known to offer one of the best Christmas buffets in town. You can take your pick from all the favorites: roast turkey with stuffing, red-wine roasted beef, Brussels sprouts, and, of course, butternut squash. Reserving is recommended and not cheap - prices are more in line with Western standards than Thai. The Duke has four locations, though we recommend either the one next to the Ping River or the one at Maya Mall.
2. Chiang Mai Smoke House
If you love tasty meats, this is the place for your Christmas dinner. The Chiang Mai Smoke House has been offering Christmas dinners for years now, and it's a well-loved spot for a reason. It's more like a garden party buffet than a restaurant setting, so it's a good option if you're looking for a no-fuss, no-frills Christmas meal. The menu is all-you-can-eat for a very reasonable price, and the meats served are top-notch. Chiang Mai Smoke House is very popular with local expats, so make sure to reserve in advance.
3. Annies
Annies is one of the best spots for a roast dinner in the city, so you're guaranteed to find a good Christmas Dinner here. They serve turkey (of course!) with all the traditional trimmings followed by Christmas pudding. The atmosphere here is excellent, and it's very popular with expats and tourists, so you might want to stay for a couple of drinks after dinner. Despite serving Western food, the dinner menu is pretty affordable here. Annies is located in the Old City near the Three Kings Monument and Zoe in Yellow Bar.
4. The UN Irish
If you're looking for a roast dinner, an Irish bar is a safe bet - and the UN Irish is no exception to this rule. They serve up a three-course Christmas dinner consisting of soup to start, a choice of meat or vegetarian option for the main, and traditional Christmas pudding to finish. The UN is a popular spot for Christmas dinner, so it's well worth booking in advance.
You certainly won't struggle to find a Christmas dinner in the city. Many high-end hotels host Christmas meals for guests, and it's often possible to book one even if you aren't staying there.
Celebrating the holidays: Local Chiang Mai events and Christmas Mass.
Of course, Christmas is a Christian holiday. Some visitors to Chiang Mai might want to celebrate the holiday by including a church service in their day. There are multiple options for Christmas Mass services in Chiang Mai - at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, located on the banks of the Ping river, there is a Catholic mass in English. Additionally, you'll find English Christmas Mass services at the smaller Anglican All Saints church, close to the old city, and the Church of Christ in the Nimman area.
The local Thai residents also get into the holiday spirit - an example of this is the Ping Fai Festival. The dates change slightly every year, but it usually takes place around the 23rd - 31st December. It's Chiang Mai's take on a Christmas market, and here you can find vendors selling handcrafted goods, tasty food, and live music performances. Located right in the Nimman area on Suk Kasem road, it is easy to find and reach and is definitely worth a visit!
Where to go party for New Year’s Eve in Chiang Mai?
Of course, Christmas is a Christian holiday. Some visitors to Chiang Mai might want to celebrate the holiday by including a church service in their day. There are multiple options for Christmas Mass services in Chiang Mai - at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, located on the banks of the Ping river, there is a Catholic mass in English. Additionally, you'll find English Christmas Mass services at the smaller Anglican All Saints church, close to the old city, and the Church of Christ in the Nimman area.
The local Thai residents also get into the holiday spirit - an example of this is the Ping Fai Festival. The dates change slightly every year, but it usually takes place around the 23rd - 31st December. It's Chiang Mai's take on a Christmas market, and here you can find vendors selling handcrafted goods, tasty food, and live music performances. Located right in the Nimman area on Suk Kasem road, it is easy to find and reach and is definitely worth a visit!
Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Chiang Mai: The Best Spots
As previously mentioned, the people of Thailand never miss an opportunity to party. Even though it is not an official holiday, many places organize New Year's parties on the 31st of December. One great thing about New Year's Eve not being an official holiday in Thailand is that all of the shops stay open - so you can easily stop by the store to grab that extra bottle of Champagne. There will be plenty of fireworks throughout the evening, and people also celebrate by lighting the traditional hot air lanterns. It may not be as spectacular as during Loy Krathong, but it is still a beautiful sight.
If you want to catch a unique cultural experience, we recommend visiting one of the prominent temples. At Wat Phan Tao, monks and volunteers decorate the temple and the surroundings beautifully for the holidays. At both Wat Phan Tao and Wat Lok Molee, a special Buddhist countdown ceremony takes place to ring in the New Year. The droning mantras are guaranteed to be different from any New Year's countdown you've ever experienced! Many Thais visit the temples to pray and make wishes for the new year. Naturally, make sure to act respectfully and dress appropriately for the occasion.
Additionally, at Tha Pae Gate, there is a countdown celebration with live music and fireworks. This is one of the best places in the city to celebrate the new year if you're traveling as a family, as the road is pedestrianized after 5:30 pm, so it's very safe for children. You can also find a New Year's event down by the river - either by the Chiang Mai Community Center or across the bridge on the river's eastern bank.
1. Rooftop bars around Nimman and in the Old City
One of the best places to ring in the new year and soak up the atmosphere is on one of Chiang Mai's many rooftop bars. Here you can enjoy the countdown and watch the city skyline erupt with a display of fireworks at midnight.
The rooftop area at Maya Mall is called Nimman Hill. You'll find a few notable rooftop bars here that host New Year's Eve celebrations - Myst Maya is a popular choice and is famous for its unique molecular cocktails. There are three seating areas to choose from, and a live DJ will be there to soundtrack your night.
Also in Nimman is the hotel Akyra Manor's rooftop bar, Rise, which hosts a yearly New Year's party and has one of the city's best views - so it's perfect for watching the fireworks over Chiang Mai.
In the old city, there are a large number of smaller bars that are a great place to celebrate the new year, like THC Rooftop Bar. This quirky venue is a great spot for live music and a buzzing atmosphere, but as it's a bit smaller you might want to reserve a table in advance.
The northeast corner of the moat is home to a small pocket of cool bars such as Radost, a Czech-German Sports bar, Gladwell Cocktail Bar, and one of our favorite spots - Chill-out bar. The chill-out bar is a real hole-in-the-wall drinking spot with cheap beer and good company. Any of these smaller bars offer a more lowkey way to ring in the new year, and they're great places to grab a couple of drinks, socialize, and celebrate.
2. Zoe in Yellow and the Riverside
More central in the old city are the bars and clubs around Zoe in Yellow, where there are always big parties on New Year's Eve. Zoe in Yellow itself will throw a big countdown party with a live DJ, and there's always a fantastic atmosphere there. Additionally on the walk towards the old city moat at the Tha Pae Gate, and you'll pass many other lively bars and pubs. From there, walk toward the river for a good view of the fireworks as midnight approaches. The Riverside Bar is another great spot in this area, with a large outdoor terrace, a great cocktail menu, and live music.
3. Hotel Bars
If you fancy a more formal affair or are looking for an excuse to dress up, many high-end hotels host New Year's Eve banquets and Gala Dinners. These all include a set menu or some form of buffet, entertainment, and a live countdown. Popular choices include the Anantara, the Akyra, and the Shangri-La.
4. Nimmanhaemin Night Clubs
Clubbing might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you picture Chiang Mai, but there are some pretty impressive nightclubs in the city, particularly around the vibrant student area Nimman. If you fancy dancing your way into the new year, check out the party at the popular Infinity Club, or the Chiang Mai nightlife institution Warm Up Cafe.
We hope these tips and suggestions will help you have a great time celebrating the festive season in our city. Happy holidays in Chiang Mai!
Tip: The 'real' Thai New Year's Eve: Check out our Songkran BLOG here.